ENGLAND Test captain Joe Root has signed a new three-year contract extension with Yorkshire, keeping him at Headingley until the end of 2022.

Root, widely regarded as English cricket’s most prized asset, was already contracted with the White Rose until the end of 2019, but both parties have sought to maintain their long-standing affiliation.

Speaking from his home in Sheffield and, having married wife Carrie at the weekend, Root told yorkshireccc.com: "I love playing for Yorkshire. It's my county. It's where I've grown up and what I know. It's the White Rose and what it's about.

"For me, I don't really see myself playing anywhere else. I'm passionate about us as a county being successful. If I've got any opportunity to try and add to that and be a part of something, that's really exciting for me.

"I'm looking forward to this new adventure for the club - new ground, young side, it should be a really exciting time."

The 27-year-old right-hander has consistently vied for the tag as the world’s best batsman and currently sits fourth in the ICC Test Batsman rankings, behind Kane Williamson, Steven Smith and Virat Kohli.

A product of the Sheffield Collegiate club, Root has scored 6,508 Test runs at an average of 50.44 since making his England debut in 2012.

He scored his maiden Test century on his home ground at Headingley in the summer series against New Zealand in 2013 and became the sixth Englishman to score a century on their captaincy debut, with his coming at Lord’s in July 2017.

“It’s still the same buzz and the enjoyment is certainly there, but with slightly different pressures,” he added.

“I still get very excited about the start of the season or going into a very big series.

"Going back to play for Yorkshire, there’s always a slightly different pressure to it and a different side to it.

"I’ve grown up with a lot of the lads and have played with them through the age-groups system and it’s always an absolute privilege and pleasure to come and play for Yorkshire.

“At times it feels a little bit frustrating because you want to play more, but ultimately you have got to focus on playing for your country, which is quite a big commitment now especially given the amount of international cricket there is.

"That makes it very difficult to come and play for Yorkshire, but that little bit more special when you do get the opportunity to.

"It really counts, it’s your one opportunity, or two or three games, to contribute to the team or try and achieve something special.

"That’s the way I’ll continue to look at it, to try and contribute towards something special for the rest of the group.”

From first coming to the club’s attention as a 12-year-old, Root made his Yorkshire debut in 2009 and his Championship debut in 2011 against Worcestershire at New Road, a match in which he scored 66 – now his shirt number.

He finished his breakthrough first-class summer with 1,013 runs to his name.

He added: “I remember being a kid coming through and having players like Anthony McGrath, Michael Vaughan, Darren Gough and Matthew Hoggard, some really big international players at the club that I could watch how they operated and went about things.

“I’d look at the level of intensity in their practice and it was an eye-opening experience as I watched the way they went about it and I’d like to think that when you go back you can offer the same sort of support or guidance that they did for me.

“It’s not only an opportunity to perform on the field but an opportunity to offer as much as you can, to the younger guys, off the field too.”

Director of cricket Martyn Moxon said: “Everybody at the club is delighted that Joe has agreed to extend until the end of 2022 and we’re pleased to have signed him up for that length of time.

"Clearly, at the moment he’s not playing a great deal for us, but I think it’s great that we’ve got Joe’s affiliation with us and when he does play he has a massive impact coming back into the dressing room.

"The influence he has on our players is huge and the younger players aspire to reach the levels that Joe has achieved - we’ve got that role model within the club.

“He has never forgotten his roots, pardon the pun, and he’s never changed. He’s still as passionate and works as hard with Yorkshire as he does with England and it’s great he’s willing to commit for the longer-term.

"That shows his passion to play for the club and his passion to play for Yorkshire.

“That’s the beauty of Joe, he’s always got time for the younger lads and is a fantastic role model for our younger cricketers. It’s great to have him on board for the foreseeable future.”